Guide means for flush tank valves



J. A. DEATHERAGE GUIDE MEANS FOR FLUSH TANK VALVES April 20, 1954 Filed July 23, 1951 Fig.

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2 Sheets-Sheet l A. Deaf/:emga

INVENTOR.

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pril 20, 1954 J. A. DEATHERAGE 2,675,563

GUIDE MEANS FOR FLUSH TANK VALVES Filed July 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig; 7 MIIIIIIW j ill.

Jae A. Deafherage INVENTOR.

BY @Mmm ana/Wawy Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE 1 V1 Claim. l

My invention relates to improvements in guide means for iiush tank valves, and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide eiiicient guide means for the ball float valve and valve stem of such tanks especially designed to attain precision seating of the valve Without retarding operation of the same,

Another object is to provide guide means of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is attaehable readily and quickly to the usual overiiow stand pipe of such tanks, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, install and service.

Other and subordinate objects, within the pur- View of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvement will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specication.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in vertical section, partly inside elevation, illustrating my improved guide means installed in a flush tank;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the guide means turned through an angle of 90 degrees;

7figure 3 is a fragmentary View in plan;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.;

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure S is a view in vertical section taken on the line tof Figure 4; and

Figure 'l is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, guide means, designated generally I, for the usual type of vertically movable ball, oat valve 2, and the upstanding stem, or rod 3 thereof are provided in a iiush tank II, said means comprising a valve guide cage 5 of skeleton form, having a stem guide 6 rising therefrom. The valve cage 5 is of vertically elongated cylindrical form with vertical water inlet slots i therein, an upwardly tapering top 8, and an annular bottom 9 resting on the usual valve seat I@ of the ilush tank 4 to guide the ball valve 2 in its movement onto and off said seat III. The valve cage 5, at its bottom, is flared, as at II, to obviate binding of the valve 2 therein at the valve seat I0 because of possible manufacturing variations in the size of the valve 2, or other imperfections in said valve. A bottom notch I2 is provided in the bottom 9 to straddle the usual horizontal branch inlet duct I3 of the usual overflow standpipe Ill of the flush tank 4 if, as fre- 2 quently occurs, the branch duet I3 is offset above the valve seat ii) to which it leads.

The stem guide 5 is tubular, rises from the top 3 of the cage 5 axially oi said cage and slidably receives the usual upper end hook I5 on the stem 3. Longitudinal slots I6 are provided in the stem guide E5, preferably in 9G degree angular relation. The lower lateral end Il of the usual valve lift rod It, with the usual eye IS on said end encircling the stem i below the hook I5 is extended out of one of the slots I selected in accordance with the desired position of said lift rod I8 circumferentially of said stern guide 6. The upper ends or the slots It terminate from the top t a distance less than the height oi the cage 5 for coaction with the lower end Il of the lift rod I 8 to limit upward movement of said rod I8, stem 3 and valve 2 and thereby prevent the valve 2 from being lifted so as to be bumped against the top S of the cage 5 and the connection between the valve 2 and stem 3 loosened, the connection between such valves and stems being a threaded connection, as illustrated'at Z, which may become loosened by impact of the valve against a iixed part during upward movement of said valve. Preferably, the upper ends of the slots it are so arranged that the valve 2 can only be lifted sufficiently to start the same floating.

A C-clamp 2l is provided Ifor attaching the guide cage 5 to the overflow standpipe I4 of the flush tank d. The C-clarnp 2| comprises a fixed jaw section 23 extending horizontally from the top 8 at one side of said cage 5, and a complemental removable jaw section 2e attachable to the section 23 by a pair of upper and lower screws 25, 25. The complemental removable jaw section 2d is formed with a spacing rib 2'I for spacing said section from the iixed section 23 to prevent said sections from freezing together from rust, or the like.

As will be obvious, the valve 2 is guided by the guide cage 5 in its Vertical movement onto and onc the seat i6, while the upper end, or hook I5, of the stem 3 is guided by the stem guide 6. The requisite amount of clearance is provided between the guide cage 5 and valve 2 and between the hook I5 and stein guide ii to obviate fricticnal resistance to vertical movement of said valve 2 and hook I5.

The lforegoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modiication without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein 3 reserved to such modications as fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a iiush tank having a bottom valve seat, an overiow stand pipe branched to said seat, a ball valve on the lower end of a stem and vertically movable onto and 01T said seat, and a lift rod for the stem having a lateral end operatively connected to the upper end of the stem, a cylindrical skeleton cage for guiding said valve provided With a top and an annular internally flared bottom resting concentrically on said seat to guide the valve to the seat and` being notched to fit over said branch, a tubular stem guide rising from said top and provided with a longitudinal slot therein through which said lateral end o the lift rod extends into said guide for vertical movement in operative connection with said stem, and means attaching said cage to said pipe, the

4 upper end of the slot terminating from said top a distance less than the height of the cage for coaction with said lateral end of the lift rod to limit upward movement of said rod, stem and valve and to prevent the valve from being lifted against said top.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 629,464 Paul July 25, 1899 2,121,362 Marten June 21, 1938 2,135,231 David NOV. 1, 1938 2,508,667Y Fulton May 23, 1950 2,626,399 Blair Jan. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,537 Italy Aug. 6, 1936 

